Rifle.



i V. C. BRANNON.

RIFLE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.14. 1917.

.raw

i@ N n Liw AL [L W s Mm. Nm, NN m 4 mmh NN @Nvmwmw 2, ww@ n .l

MCB

v. c. BRANNON.

RIFLE.

APPucATloN FILED FEB. 14.

Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

vInGIL-c. BaANNoN, or ronT sTocxToN, TEXAS, AssIGNon or mE-HALF ToqosEPH L MAYFIELD, or WICHITA FALLS, TExAs.

RIFLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J all. 14, 1919.

Application led February 14, 1917. Serial No. 148.508.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, VIRGIL C. BRANNON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Stockton, in the county of Pecos and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rifles; and I do hereby declare the. following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a rifle, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a rifle which is constructed for using either'black 0r smokeless powder, or any type of explosive gases without the use of a containing shell. or primer, and to provide means whereby the explosive charge of the gun is electrically ignited through the medium of a spark plug and battery, which battery is carried within the stock or butt of the gun.

Another object of this invention is to provide a riie as specified which has a gasolene or magazine chamber for powder attached to the Agun stock, which tank has communication with a mixing chamber and a pump, which air pump is operated by the sliding movement of the gun bolt for forcing air into the magazine or tank for forcing a quantity of gasolene or other explosive elements out of the tank into the mixing chamber and from the mixing chamber into the firing chamber which is formedin the bolt of the gun. v

Another object of this invention is to provide a riiie as specified which includes 'a bolt operated by the usual type of handle employed in high powered rifles used for military purposes, which bolt is hollow and provides the firing chamber, the outlet lof which chamber has communication with the bore of the rifle barrel and fits tightly against the butt end of the bullet so that upon the explosion of the charge of gas within the ring chamber the bullet will be forced out of the nozzle of the rifle barrel.

A still further object of this invention is to providel a rifle which is substantially V fool proof in that it requires three separate manipulations or .op'erationsvtol load and discharge,V the gun whlch pract1cally eliminates the liability of accidental or unintentional -discharge of the A still further object of th1s invention is to provide a novel form of bullet for use in the riie which is fed into the breech ofthe rifle barrel by the usual type of cli'p structure, and which bullet has a soft felt or hair washer attached'to the vbutt end of the same for forming a fiuid and air tight connection between the outlet vend of the bolt and the bullet so as to prevent the escape of any of the explosive gas about the bullet and insure the speedy propulsion of the bullet out of the rifle'barrel upon the discharge gf the explosive gas within the firing cham- A still further object of this invention is to provide a. bullet firing or retaining chamber which is removably mounted in the breech end of the riie barrel, and extends over the discharge end of the bolt so that when the shell bed becomes worn or enlarged and burnt out by the excessive firing of the gun, a new bullet bed or member may be easily and quickly passed to the rifle barrel instead of the worn and inaccurate arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to Othe accompanying drawings whereinlike characters designate like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevationl of the im proved gun. y v

Fig. 2 is a, longitudinal 'section through the butt of the gun and the'breech end of the barrel.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the firing chamber and breech of the gun barrel.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the bullet used in the gun showing parts thereof in section.

Fig. 5 Yis a detail side elevation of the bullet bed.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of bullet carrying and feeding clip.

Fig. is a detail view illustrating the powder carrying and feedlng chamber, and

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the electrical switch employed for causing the firing c1rcuit.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 designates the barrel of the rifle which. is constructed in the usual manner' in which the barrel of a high powered military rifle is constructed, and it has the usual type of stock 2 attached thereto upon the rear end of which. is formed the butt 3 for fitting against the shoulder of the user of the rie. The usual type of fore and rear sights ,4 and 5 respectively are employed in connection with this riie, and as they form no part of the invention a specific description I thereof will not be given.

annular flange 9 formed thereon whichl abutsv the endof the barrel 1. and it has a sleeve The bore 6 of the barrel 1 is enlarged and internally screw threaded at the breech end .of the barrel 1 as clearly shown at 7 to receive the externally screw threaded bullet bed' 8 which is removably mounted in the bore 6 so that when the bullet bed becomes burnt and enlarged bythe action of the high explosive gases, it can be replaced by a new and perfect one. The bullet bed 8 has an 10 formed thereon and extending in the opposite direction from the liange 9 to the,bul let bed 8 as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5 l.structure is operated by a handle 15, which handle is of the usual construction employed in Springfield, or similar'ries, and the bolt, 14 is operated in identically the same. manner as the bolt of a Springfield or similar military rifle is operated. The usual type "of locking mechanism 16 is employed for locking the bolt in-.its forward closed. position.

The bolt 14v is hollow, being providedwith a bore 17 'which forms the firing chamberl of the gun.

i The outlet 18 of the firing chamber communicates with the interior of the bullet bed 8 andthe forward end of the bolt 17 engages the butt end of the bullet 19 Awhen the latter is positioned in the bullet bed 8.

The bullet 19.is of a particular construction adapted for use in a gas gunof this 'type and it has no shell primer or the like,'

merely .the projectile or bullet which is con` -.structed of any suitable material, and if it is desired it may be coated with a steel coating or shell or made in' any other of the apthe inlet pipe 22 communicates.

proved forms of bullet construction. The

butt end of the bullet 19 hasa cushioning washer 'or disk 20 secured theretol in any suitable manner which cushion or washer may be constructed of felt, or the like, and is adapted for engagement with the forwardend of the bolt 14 so as to provide a practically air and fluid tight connection between the bullet 19 and the bolt 14 so as to eliminate the liability of the escapage of an of the explosive' gas out of the chamber 1 through the barrel 1 of the rifle. The inlet pipe'22 is vpreferably constructed of a flexi- -ble tubesol as to permit of the action of the bolt 14.

The bolt 14fis provided with a .chamber 21 formed at itsinlet end with which chamber A valve seat 23 is `formed in vthe chamber-17 anda valve cone 24 normally rests in the valve seat 23 for. cutting olf communication between the cham-ber 21 and the firing chamber 17, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. A stem 25 is 'connected to the valve cone 24 and it extends outwardly through the, rear end ofthe bolt 14. A button 26 isfmounted upon the outer end of the stem `or pin 25 anda coil spring 27 is coiled about the pin.` -One end of the spring 27 engages the button 26 `while the other end engages the rear end ofthe bolt 14. The spring 27 is provided for holdingthe valve cone 24 seated in the valve seat 23. so as to prevent the passage' pf explosive gas from the chamber 21 into the. ring chamber 17 except when the button' 26 is pushed inwardly against the tension of the spring 27 for unseating the valve cone 24 and allowing the explosive gas to pass into the chamber 17.

The inlet 22'has communieationwith a mixing chamber 2 8 which is carried by the stock of the gun beneaththe barrel as clearly shown in Figs. land 2 of the drawings. i The mixing chamber 28 has communication', through medium -ofa pipe 29 with a gasolene or explosive gas retaining tank 30 which tankis also supported by the stock 2 of the outwardly of the mixing tank 28. An air pump 31 is carried by .the side of the gu'n stock and -it has communication with an air-quantity regulatingand guiding valve structure 32 through themedium of a pipe The valve structure 32 mayfbe of any-ordinary two way type for regulating thequantity of air and also for directing the passage of the air nto'either'the pipe 34 or the pipe 35. A pipe 34 extends through the valve structure`32 into the tank 30 and a 'second pipe extedsout Vof to the mixing chamber 28.

Thepiston-rod .36 of the pump structure 31, is connected through the medium of a plate 37 to the bolt 14, Sothat Whenjhe bolt 1s` withdrawn for loading the riielthe piston points to the other will i of the pump structure 31 will be drawn outwardly and upon the inward movement of the bolt 14 the piston will be forced into the pump for forcing a blast of air through the valve 32 into either chambers 30 or 28 depending upon the regulation of the valve 32.

The bullets 19 are carried by a slip 40 which is attached to the gun through the medium of a pair 0fbars 41 which are pivo'tally connected to the sides of the clip cas ing 40 so that the c lip casing may be quickly attached to or detached from the riieas desired. The clip casing 40 has a follower 42 positioned therein against'the under surface of which a spring 43 presses. The spring 43 presses the follower 42 upwardly lwhich in turn forces the. bullets 19 upwardly so that it will move the carrier of the sleeve 10 and be forced into the bullet bed 8 under the movement of the bolt 14forwardly by the action of the lhandle 15. A spark plug 45 of the usual construction is carriedby the bolt 14 and has itsI sparking point 46 positioned inwardly of the bolt 14 so that upon the passage of a current through the plug the spark passing from one of the ite the explosive gas 1n' the chamber 17 j or projecting the bullet or projectile 19. The spark plug 45 has an electrical conducting wire 47 con-v nected thereto which Wire is connected to one pole of a transformer 48. A wire 49 is connected to the. opposite pole of the transformer 48 and to a metal plate 50 which forms a part of the riiie construction and which is engaged by the bolt 14 asclearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, so 'that upon the passage `of an electrical current through the transformer 48, the current will pass from one pole into and through the spark plug and from the other j pole into the plate `50 and through this plate`v inlto the `bolt 14, and consequently into the spark plug 45 closing the circuit and causing an electrical spark to jump from oneof the sparking points 46 to the other 4for igniting the gas into the chamber 17.

The transformer 48 is connected 'to one pole of a battery 51 by a wire 52 and it is connected'to one contact 53 of a spring switch structure 54 by a conducting wire 55. The other resilient contact 56 of the spring or resilient switch structure 54-is connected through the medium of a conducting wire 57 with the opposite pole of the battery 51 to that pole which is connected to 'the transformer 48, as clearly shown in Fig. `2.

A circuit is closed between the contracts 53 and l56by Ithe vplug 58, which plug is car-r ment with the contacts 53 and-56 for closof the butt plate 22. A spring 63 is coiled about the pin 59 for holdin the wedge 58 out of engagement with t e contacts and 56.

rlhe operation of the improved gun:

The bolt 14 is withdrawn or moved rearwardly inthe usual manner by the operation of the handle 15 at which time a bullet 19 is forced upwardly by theaction of a spring 43 so that upon the forward or inward movement of rthe bolt 14, the bullet will be seated' in the bullet bed 8 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, of the drawings.- During the movement of the bolt 14, the pump 31 is actuated for forcing air through the valve 32, which will force a certain quantity of rthe explosive gas or volatile liquid such as gasolene, or the like out of the tank.30 into the mixing chamber 28 through the pipe 29 where it-is mixed with air which enters the mixing cham'ber 28 through the pipe 35. The air entering the mixing chamber 28 through the pipe 35 mixes the explosive gas outwardly through the pipe 22. The pin 25 is then forced inwardly against the tension of the spring 27 which unseats the valve 24, and allows the ex lesive gas to enter the tiring chamber 1 where it is confined until fired. Immediately after. the single charge of ythe explosive gas has entered the chamber 17 the pressure is released from the button 26 which allows y forcing the pin 59 andthe edge 58 inwardly for closing a circuit between the contacts 53 and ,56 whiclr causes an electrical circuit,

to pass through the spark plug 45 in the manner heretofore described and causing a spark to jump from one .of the sparking points 46 to the other which spark ignites the charge of explosive gas in the chamber 17, and forces the bullet 19 outwardly through the bore 6 of the rilie barrel 1. The foregoing/operation is repeated upon each firing of 'the rifle.

In Fig. 7 of the drawings, a powder chamber. and feeding mechanism is illustrated which may be employed in lieu of the tank 30 if desired. The powder feeding structure which is generically indicated by the numeral 70 comprises an outer casing 71 in which is positioned an internal shell 72 whichholds the powder and has a spring Vcontrolled follower 73 .mounted therein. The follower 73 has diametrically opposed pins 74 carried by its edges which `ride in slots 75 formed in the shell or sleeve 72.

said bolt, means for'moving said bolt out ofA tont controlled cutoff is carried by the charger 76 and it is controlled by a button 77. The charge of powder is forced from the charger 76 into -the mixing chamber 28 and from the mixing chamber through the pipe 22 intothe chamber 21 and from thence into the chamber 17 in the same manner in which a. charge of explosive gas -isforced into the firing chamber and the charge'of explosive powder is exploded by the passing, of an electrical'sparkbetween the sparking points 46 and the spark plug 45 aspreviously described. I

l From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings the advantages of construction and of the method of operation of the improved rifles will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains and while in the foregoing description this invention has been described together with various features of construction, it is to be understood that certain minor features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts may be altered to suit practical conditions provided such alteratlons are comprehended within the scope' of what is claimed.. Y

What is claimed is 1. In a rifle structure, the combination with an ordinary rifie barrel, of a sliding4 bolt, means for operating said sliding bolt,

a removable bullet bed seated in the breechof said barrel and having one end enlarged to receive one end of said sliding bolt.

2. In a riie structure, the combination, with an ordinary rifle barrel, of a removable bullet bed seated in the breech of said barrel, a sliding" b0lt, said bolt being hollow to form a firing chamber, said bullet bedhaving one end enlarged to receive one end of said enlarged end to permit a bullet to be placed in the-bed, means for feeding and controlling the passage of explosive gas into t said vringchamber, and meansfor exploding gas after entrance into the chamber.

3. In a rifle structure, an ordinary rifle v'barrel havingA a breech, a removable bullet bed se/atedwithin said breech, means for feeding bullets ,into said bullet bed, a sliding bolt, means for operating said bolt, said bolt being hollow to .provide a firing chamber adapted to contain an explosive material, means for exploding explosive material within said firing chamber for discharg- I' ing a bullet out ofA said barrel, said bolt being provided with a chamber having -communication by means of' a` valve 'seat with said firing chamber, a 'valve seated 1n the valve seat-for controlling-the passage of explosive material from'saidirst named chamber into said firing chamber, and a spring controlled rod for controlling the operation of said valve.

4. In a rifle structure, an ordinary rifle barrel having a breech, a removable bullet bed seated within said breech, means for feeding bullets into said bullet bed, a sliding bolt, means-for`ope'rating 'said bolt, said bolt being hollow to provide a firing chamber adapted to contain an explosive material, means for exploding explosive material Within said firing chamber for discharging a bullet out of said barrel, said bolt being pro- Avided with va chamber having communication by means of a valve seat with said firing chamber, a valve seated in the valve. seat forA controlling the passage of explosive material from said first named chamber into said firing chamber, aspring controlled rod for controlling the operation of saidvalve, a' mixing chamber carried by the rifle, a pipe communicating with said first named chamber and said mixing tank for conveying explosive material from the mixing tank into the firing chamber.

5. In a, rifle structure, an ordinary rifle barrel having a breech, a removable bullet bed seatedwithin said breech, means for 1 feeding bullets into said bullet bed, a sliding bolt, means for operating said bolt, said bolt being hollow to provide a g chamber adaptedto contain an explosive material, means for exploding explosive mate.- i rial within said iiring chamber for discharging a bullet -out' of said barrel, said bolt being provided with a chamber having com-- munication by means of a valve seat with said firing chamber, a valve seated in the valve'seat for controlling the passage of explosive material from said first named Vchamber into said firing chamber, a spring controlled rod for controlling the operation of said valve, a mixing chamber carried by the lI rifle, a pipe communicating with said'rst named chamber andA said mixing tank `for conveying explosive material from'the mixing tank into the firing chamber, a pump structure carried by said riile and having communication with said -tank -for. mixing Y air with explosive material within the mixing tank and forcing the explosive material from the mixing tank into the bolt, and Ameans for operatmg said pump by the oper-l -,chamber having communication byI means the passage of ex losive material from said irst'named cham er to said firing chamber, and a spring controlled rod for controlling the operation of said valve.

7. In a rifle structure, an ordinary rifle barrel yhaving a breech, means for feeding bullets into said breech, a sliding bolt, means foroperating said bolt, said bolt being hollow to provide a firing chamber adapted to contain an explosive material, means for exploding explosive material within said firing chamber for discharging Va bullet from said barrel, said bolt being provided with a chamber having-communication by means of a valve seat with said firing chamber, a vlve seated in the ,valve seat for controlling t e passage of explosive material from said first named chamber into said firing chamber, a spring controlled rod for controlling the operation of said valve, a mixing chamber carried by the rifle, a pipe communicating with said first named chamber and said mixing chamber for conveying explosive material from the mixing chamber into said firing chamber, a pump structure carried by said rifle and having communication with said tank for mixin air with explosive material within the mlxing chamber and forcing the explosive material from the mixing chamber into the bolt, and means for operiatilng said pump by the operation of-said o t. v

8. In a'riie structure, a hollow bolt form- 'ing a rmg chamber, said bolt provided with a reduced chamber communicating with one end of the firing chamber, a valve cutting 0E communication between said chambers, means for feeding explosive material into said reduced chamber, and means for unseating said valve to permit the explosive material to enter said firing chamber.

9. In a riie structure, a hollow bolt forming a tiring chamber, said bolt provided with a reduced chamber communicating with one end of the. tiring chamber, a valve cut-V ting oli communicationbetween said chambers, means for feedlng exploslve material mto sald reduced chamber, means for unseating said valve to (permit the explosive ma-` terial to enter sai firing chamber, aspark plug communicating with the interlor of said firing chamber, andmeans for controlling the passage of an electrical current through said spark plug for controlling the explosion of explosive material Within said firing chamber. Y

10. In a riie structure, the combination with an ordinary rilile barrel, of a sliding bolt provided-with a bore-forming a firing chamber, said bolt further provided with a reduced chamber communicating with one 'end of the firing chamber, a valve cutting oli" communication between said chambers, means for feeding explosive material into said reduced chamber, means for unseating vsaid valve to permit the explosive material to enter said firing chamber, means for operating said slidable bolt, a removable bullet bed seated in the breech of said barrel and having one end enlarged to receive one end of said sliding bolt, and meansfor discharging. explosive material within the iirmg chamber.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VIRGIL C. BRANN ON. Witnesses:

J. H. DowNs, W. L. Mormon.. 

